Bumper for venetian blind and the like



June 7, 1955 D. F. WILSON BUMPER F OR VENETIAN BLIND AND THE LIKE Filed July 15, 1954 wil Y I I f 2 1 H. W 4 g m INVENTOR. DAN/EL FT WILSON BY g m M ATTORAE'Y' nited States Patent BUMPER FOR VENETIAN BLIND AND THE LIKE Daniel F. Wilson, Sunnyslope, Ariz.

Application July 15, 1954, Serial No. 443,633

1 Claim. (Cl. 160-477) This invention pertains to improvements in control devices for Venetian blinds and is particularly directed to a Wall bumper for use with the bottom rail of the blind to prevent slapping and hanging of the blind against the wall or window frame of the structure upon which it is mounted.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simplified wall bumper for Venetian blind which is effective for any tilted position of the blind or any up and down position thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved wall bumper which may be easily attached to the ends of the lower rail of a Venetian blind to prevent slapping and banging of the blind against the building structure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved wall bumper for Venetian blinds including a means for securing the bumper to the ends of the lower rail of the blind and having an arcuate building structure contacting surface having a radius of curvature coinciding with the axis of pivoting of the lower rail in tilting the Venetian blind to open and closed positions.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a general perspective view of a Venetian blind structure incorporating the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation showing the wall bumper attached to the lower rail of the Venetian blind.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 2.

As an example of one embodiment of this invention there is shown a Venetian blind suitably secured by its upper rail 11 to the window frame structure 12. The usual supporting and tilting tapes 13 controlled by the usual mechanism in the upper rail 11 are connected at 14 in a suitable well known manner to the sides of the bottom rail 15 of the Venetian blind 10. The usual lifting and lowering cords 16 controlled by a mechanism in the upper rail 11 are suitably connected at 17 intermediate the sides and ends of the lower rail 15 as in conventional practice for such Venetian blind structures. The usual cross tapes 1% are provided between the main tapes 13 which in turn support the slats 19 of the blind.

The usual Venetian blind is hung in spaced relationship between the wall or window frame structure 20 and the outer face 21 of the blind by a usual fixed space 22. During the time when windows are open air coming in or going out through the window causes an incessant swinging of the blind and the hanging of the lower rail 15 against the building structure 20 with annoying sound and damage to the finish of the building structure. It is therefore one of the purposes of this invention to provide a simple and effective bumper arrangement for the lower bar 15 of the Venetian blind which is efiective in any tilted position of the Venetian blind to maintain the desired predetermined distance 22 between the blind and the building structure 20. This device comprises a bumper member indicated generally at 23 which has a suitable means for securing it to the outer ends 15a of the bottom rail 15 such, for example, as the flexible rubber band portion 24 which may be slipped around and over the bottom rail 15 of the blind as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. On the outward facing side of the bumper 23 there is provided an arcuate mushroom shaped head portion 25 having the arcuate building structure contacting surface 26 which is defined by a radius of curvature 27 originating at the axis 28 of tilting of the lower rail 15 of the Venetian blind. Thus, no matter whether the Venetian blind is in the normal open horizontal position of the bottom rail 15 as shown in full line in Fig. 2 or in either of its tilted positions 15-b or 15-c shown in broken line in said view, the arcuate contacting surface 26, being on the radius 27 from the axis of tilting 28 of the bottom rail 15 always properly contacts the Wall structure 20 to maintain the space 22. Thus, the Venetian blind is kept in its correct oriented position and prevented from hanging or engaging the wall structure 20 for any tilted position of the slats of the blind. Further, the construction is such that it may be easily applied to the lower rail 15 as by means of the flexible loop portion 24 forming a band around the strip or by any other suitable means of attachment as desired.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement and commercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appendent claim are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this inven tion what is claimed and desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is:

In a wall bumper for a Venetian blind or the like having a bottom rail, tilting mechanism for rocking said rail, and means for raising and lowering said rail, means for securing said bumper to said rail comprising a flexible band portion adapted to be slipped over the ends of said bottom rail, and an integral mushroom head portion on the outside facing portion of said band having an arcuate abutment surface with a radius of curvature coinciding with the axis of tilting of said bottom rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 168,579 Lorentzen Jan. 6, 1953 2,181,101 Spenard Nov. 21, 1939 2,236,453 Savage Mar. 25, 1941 2,498,909 Bradley Feb. 28, 1950 

